Wednesday, September 28, 2011

More news from Dogwood Local Council

Here are some more items of interest from Dogwood Local Council...

Here are two DLC members Savannah Pagan Pride Memories
Lord Cheiron's Blog
Lady Charissa's Bits and Pieces

Political News Stories
There is no proof LGBT people exist
Pro-Life Doesn't Mean What You Think It Does (DLC member)
Finding Salvation in Bay Minette (DLC member)

Events
Atlanta Pagan Pride Oct 1st
Augusta Pagan Pride Oct 1st
Carly Gibson at the Red Light Cafe. Tickets are $7. Carly's set starts at 7 on Oct 1

Notes & Reminders
•Interfaith Radio Broadcaster (live) with DLC-CoG members on Oct 24th and Oct 31st. (further details to be announced)
•Athens Pagan Pride Oct 22nd
•Annual DLC Meeting Sun. Oct 16th at The House of Oak Springs
Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters Interview DLC-CoG members. Air date: TBA

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Southern Pagans speak Out against Bay Minette’s R.O.C. Program

At the height of Pagan Pride “season” during which we publically celebrate our faith, Dogwood Local Council, an affiliate of Covenant of the Goddess, has learned of a disturbing new program right in our backyard. In the town of Bay Minette, Alabama, a small city of 8,000 residents just north of Mobile, the Police Department is sponsoring a new program that offers an alternative to jail. The program, which came out of a public community-wide meeting held at the Abundant Life Church, is called Operation Restore Our Community or R.O.C. It allows non-violent, first-time offenders to choose jail or a year of attending Church services.

At this time, the DLC board is pleased to see a very public national out-cry. And, we fully support the current actions taken by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Freedom of Religion Foundation. Both have directly contacted the Bay Minette Police demanding that the program be eliminated due to its unconstitutionality and violation of the First Amendment. Due to their intervention and the accompanying media pressure, the ROC program, originally slated to begin September 26, has been delayed until October 11th. At this time, the City is having the program fully reviewed by local Courts for legality issues.

The Dogwood Local Council board will be watching the outcome of the October 11th court ruling. We will seek clarification on the language used in the final ruling to ascertain whether or not Pagan criminals are afforded an equivalent alternative to jail time as local Christian offenders. If the Courts do, in fact, allow the program to begin, we will ask the Bay Minette Police, on behalf of the pagans of Bay Minette and North Baldwin County, to clarify how a Pagan offender can be included in this progressive program. In other words, can a Pagan Church (Temple, Grove, Coven) supervise the rehabilitation of such a non-violent criminal? Furthermore, this question can be applied to any non-Christian violator because currently the Program’s wording is limited to Christian language.

We support progressive programs that offer second chances and rehabilitation. We understand the need for a reduced jail costs and over-crowding. We know that small towns in our region derive much of their community from Christian-based Church life. However, most importantly, we also support the secular law of this country which, states:

"Alabama State Constitution (1901): Article Three, Religious freedom. –“…. that no preference shall be given by law to any religious sect, society, denomination, or mode of worship…"

Therefore, we cannot support a program in our backyard, or anywhere in our country, that does not afford everyone, no matter of religious faith, to participate in full. Just as we all deserve a second-chance at the proverbial “good life,” we all deserve the opportunity to do so on our own spiritual path or none at all.

Bay Minette, we are watching.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Around our Local Councils

Dogwood Local Council
9/11: 13 Magickal Days of Rememberence - http://dogwooddlcorg.ipage.com/?q=node/23

We have opened up our submission call to all members of the CoG family.

Please send your memorials, memories, prayers, words of wisdom ... to pio@dogwoodlc.org When submitting, please include your LC (if applicable) and group (if applicable) so we can identify you.

The page will remain up for 13 days; officially beginning on Aug 30th and ending on September 11th. The page is public and viewable by anyone that visits our site. Please use discretion with any names. We also strongly encourage everyone to link to the page and share it with your friends and family. We hope to build strength in memory and prayer through this forum.

Unfortunately, we cannot open this up to the entire Pagan Community due to logistical limitations. However, we certainly want to encourage this type of work outside of the boundaries of CoG. If you have any non-CoG Pagan/Witch friends who would like to submit, we will consider doing so. Please contact me.

Blessings to all,
Lady Miraselena
PIO, Dogwood Local Council
Covenant of the Goddess

Everglades Moon Local Council
Turning the Tide 2011
http://www.emlc.net/joomla/index.php

Turning the Tide, 2011 celebrates our 5th YEAR of this great South Florida gathering of Witches and Wiccans! Hosted once more by Everglades Moon Local Council, we shall be celebrating a "Pentaculous" 5th year December 2-4, 2011. We will again feature workshops, rituals, drumming, the wreath/centerpiece contest, a pot luck feast and cabin space (limited availability) with supplemental tenting space. Turning the Tide is held at a small campground in Northern Miami-Date County.

We are so excited that this year's festivities will also feature a special performance by the band, Witch's Mark! Head over to their webpage to get a taste of what's in store!

Due to the overwhelming popularity of this aspect of our event, we will once again feature a wreath/centerpiece contest which all attendees are invited to enter. These also help decorate our Main Hall. Once more, the creative witches of The Temple of the Sacred Mist are already hard at work on the prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place! For more informationa bout the Wreath/Centerpiece Contest, check out the Official Wreath/Centerpiece Information Page.

Workshops with some of the best local talent are planned, as well as Iron Witch, the magickal raffle, and Pagan Caroling in the Great Hall! A full listing of the weekend's events will be posted soon.


Northern California Local Council

A Fistful Of Dollars: The Story of a Kiva.org Loan from Kieran Ball on Vimeo.


NCLC made four $25 loans today using $100 of Kiva credit that other borrowers had repaid:

VirginiaSanta Cruz, Bolivia Retail  Party Supplies
Sra. Virginia was born in Santa Cruz and is married to Sr. Ángel. Sheis 58 years old and operates a business that involves making and providing decorations for social events such as weddings, birthday and
piñata parties, and other occasions. Virginia has been in business for several years. She has four children who are already grown and independent.

The loan will be used to buy fabric for decorating tables and chairs. She is very happy with the support that has been provided because it will help her improve her earnings.

Ya Alimamy KanuFreetown Central, Sierra Leone Food  Food Market
This is 56-year-old Ya Alimamy. She is married and has 3 children aged 25, 28 and 20 years. In 2008, Ya Alimamy established her biscuits, provisions, drinks, and bread business. She began her business because
she never went to school and her parents chose that she would become a business woman to help her support her family.

DjatugbéAgoe, Togo Retail  General Store
Djatugbé, 43, is married to a forwarding agent and is raising three children. She has been working selling groceries and charcoal since 2005. She sells out of her home. She buys her goods at the Grand Market in Lomé. Djatugbé has requested her second loan from WAGES in order to buy grocery products and charcoal.

 Fudia ContehFreetown Central, Sierra Leone Food  Restaurant
This is 40 year-old Fudia. She is single, and has 1 child, aged 14. She has 1 additional dependent, who lives with her because she helps to support her for schooling. In 2008, Fudia established her restaurant when she saw that many businesses nearby had employees who were leaving the area to buy food or drink. Working 6 days a week and 6 hours a day, she earns about Le 1,100,000 every month from this business.

She would like a loan in the amount of Le 4,500,000 to renovate her restaurant, buy more chairs for her customers, drinks and some food items. She hopes that this loan will enable her to increase her monthly profits by approximately Le 400,000. In the future, Fudia plans to expand the restaurant and educate her child to university level. She thanks you for your support.
Rowan

Chamisa Local Council

Sponsored by the Chamisa Local Council of the Covenant of the Goddess
September 15, 16, 17, & 18, 2011
In the Manzano Mountains East of Albuquerque

Texas Fire Update

I heard from Sharon, and from Tom Davis, LOLC's PIO by e-mail this morning. They are all well in the city of Austin, but the fires are still burning in several surrounding areas.

In Bastrop, to the southeast of Austin, virtually an entire state park built by the WPA during the Great Depression was wiped out. In Leander, to the northwest of Austin, there was a fire that may have been the result of arson. Thousands of acres have been destroyed by fire in the areas surrounding Austin.

Sharon asked for energy to help shift the dome of high pressure that has stalled over Texas for the last few months, and for rain.

If you are interested, you can read more in the online version of the Austin American-Statesman, the local newspaper, at http://www.statesman.com/.

Tim Larson
Northern Dawn Local Council

More info:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/07/texas-wildfires-spread-rapid_n_951952.html